History of the Piezoelectric Accelerometer

Explore the great history of the piezoelectric accelerometer, and the many innovations that followed, solidifying Brüel & Kjær as the the primary source of sound and vibration measurement technology.

Table of content

Worlds first
Accelerometer Innovation Since 1942
The World's First Commercial Accelerometer

Worlds first

The World’s first commercial piezoelectric accelerometer was developed by Dr. Per V. Brüel in 1943. This was only the first of many innovations, that would shape the world of test and measurement, we know today.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the entire discipline of sound and vibration can be traced to these and other innovations developed by Per Brüel and his partner Viggo Kjær. Located in Nærum, Denmark, Brüel & Kjær started the sound and vibration journey in the distant 1942.

These early innovations created the foundation for the many sound and vibration measurement technologies used to develop and monitor everything from smartphones, cars, washing machines and aircrafts, we use today.

From a humble start with a small, voltmeter product line, Brüel & Kjær quickly expanded the product range over the years, which today consists of over 200 measuring instruments, transducers, and analysis software.

Accelerometer Innovation Since 1942

Type 4301 was only the first in a long line of world's first innovative technologies to be released, but before we get to how the first commercial accelerometer ever made, let's take a closer look at some of the many technology innovations, that Brüel & Kjær has developed.

The table below gives a complete overview of the ground-breaking technological inventions, which are still used in test and measurement applications world-wide.

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Type 4301

1943

World’s first commercial piezoelectric accelerometer made from Rochelle salt crystals and developed by Dr. Per V. Brüel in 1943.

Worlds first accelerometer

Type 4310

1957

A strong piezoelectric effect was discovered in lead zirconate titanate (PZT) by Jaffe in the early of 1950s, leading to the release of Brüel & Kjær’s first lead zirconate titanate (PZT) accelerometer

Type 8305

1971

Brüel & Kjær’s standard reference accelerometer based on an inverted, centremounted compression design with quartz crystal piezoelectric element, ensured a high degree of accuracy for calibration

Standard reference accelerometer

Type 4366

1974

This all‐titanium accelerometer was the first based on Brüel & Kjær’s patented DeltaShear™ design. Still in use today, the construction is regarded as one of the all‐time, classic accelerometer constructions.

Worlds first DeltaShear

Type 4374

1977

The first miniature accelerometer with a PlanarShear design – extending the frequency range of Brüel & Kjær Shear design.

The first miniature

Type 4390

1985

World’s first accelerometer with constant voltage line‐drive (CVLD) built‐in preamplifier.

World's first constant voltage accelerometer

Type 8317

1985

Brüel & Kjær’s first and highly reliable industrial DeltaShear accelerometer suitable for permanent vibration monitoring in potentially explosive environments.

Types 4507 and 4508

1996

World’s first dedicated modal shear accelerometer family.

World's first modal accelerometer

Type 4506

1998

The world’s first OrthoShear™ triaxial accelerometer – one seismic mass for optimized noise floor and orthogonality.

World's first OrthoShear™ triaxial accelerometer

Type 4507‐B

1999

Another world first – an accelerometer with integrated TEDS (transducer electronic data sheet)

Type 4524‐B

2005

The first miniature triaxial accelerometer with integrated TEDS.

Worlds first miniature TEDS accelerometer

Type 4526

2008

A ThetaShear™, CCLD accelerometer for applications up to 180 °C (356 °F) – the highest temperature for an accelerometer with built‐in preamplifier in the industry.

Accelerometer with the highest temperature in the industry

Type 8347‐C

2012

Wide temperature range (–321 to +900 °F (–196 to +482 °C)) industrial accelerometer with superior temperature transient performance from Shear design.

Accelerometer with temperature range

Type 4527

2012

This universal CCLD triaxial accelerometer never sits still on the shelf, and has the widest temperature (up to 180 °C (356 °F)) and dynamic range.

Accelerometer with the widest temperature range

Type 4527‐C

2015

The first triaxial charge accelerometer featuring a single connector.

The first single connector accelerometer

Types 4535‐B, 4524‐B and 4508‐B

2015

Some of the first accelerometers with data matrix. Used with Transducer Smart Setup for seamless transfer of transducer data to PULSE Reflex™.

The first accelerometers with data matrix

The World's First Commercial Accelerometer

In the year 1943, Per V. Brüel designed the world’s first commercial piezoelectric accelerometer called Type 4301. It was made from Rochelle salt crystals and featured a sensitivity of 35–50 mV/g and a resonant frequency of 2–3 kHz.

World's first accelerometer made in 1943

On the left: Prototype drawings of Type 4301. On the right: Photo of the actual accelerometer.

Throughout the 1950s the Rochelle salt crystals were replaced by ceramic elements. This resulted in a doubling of the accelerometer’s sensitivity and increased its resonance to 5kHz.

Later, Brüel & Kjær added compression type accelerometers to its product line, which were further modified in 1964. This resulted in the introduction of a new series with reduced susceptibility to case loading and base strain. Further improvements in the compression design were made from 1968 to 1975.

Transducer development and innovation is very much in the Brüel & Kjær DNA. Today, we lead the industry with our many patented technology and unrivalled accuracy.

In the early 50’s the Rochelle salt crystals were replaced by ceramic elements, which resulted in doubling the accelerometer’s sensitivity and increasing its resonance to 5kHz. Later that same decade, B&K included to its product line compression type accelerometers which were further modified in 1964, resulting in the introduction of a new series with reduced susceptibility to case loading and base strain. Further improvements in the compression design were made from 1968 to 1975.

B&K strengthened its U.S. presence in 1958 with the opening of its facility in Cleveland, OH. The company’s first shear accelerometer (Type 8307) advanced in 1972. In 1974 the DeltaShear R design was introduced, which was further standardized during the years and later in the 90s it included DeltaTron R integrated circuits.

Type 8309 is Brüel & Kjær’s 100 000 g accelerometer. The company’s continuous development of transducers for sound and vibration is increasingly focusing on complete systems. B&K currently is one of the few companies providing the most complete solutions for sound and vibration measurement, while also staying focused on accelerometer calibration systems.

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